Perking up the town

In March of this year I initiated a campaign in conjunction with the Bexhill Alliance to raise funds for a floral display on Sackville Road in the hope that this may be the beginning of a civic pride movement that would spread through the town. I appealed to my fellow commercial tenants in Sackville Road and the Bexhill Observer published the letter. The objective was to install fit-for-purpose baskets on the 12 lampposts in the street professionally planted and maintained from May to September. The Bexhill Alliance undertook comprehensive research into the suppliers and costings. The initial set up costs were around £4.000 with subsequent years costing in the region of £1,500.

I am hugely grateful for the enthusiasm and pledges of financial support from Elizabeth; Lomax Jewellery; Marino’s; Scruffs; Hook, Line and Sinker; Acme; Second Spin; The Property Cafe; The Lighting Emporium; Ark Estate Agents; Sivyers; The Sportsman; Fancy Pants; Ark Hairdressing; Bexhill Caring Community; Curves; Bexhill Photographic; Bexhill Funeral Service and Your Dental Care. Unfortunately we achieved only a third of the finance required. At Destination our ongoing ‘refuse a bag, get flowers’ scheme has raised around £60 so far and I have been heartened by the personal donations from local customers and an astonishing number of tourists who have been so enthusiastic about the idea and added another £50 to the fund. I remain hopeful that despite difficult economic times that more businesses in the road will come on board as myself alongside John Lee and Anne Brookes from Bexhill Alliance endeavour to rejuvenate the campaign in preparation for 2011.

If any member of the community would like to support the campaign in any way or any traders on the other commercial roads of Bexhill would like to co-ordinate fundraising for flowers in their road, please do get in contact. The smallest of donations would be greatly appreciated... from little acorns...

Denise Wood

Destination

Sackville Road

Bexhill